Club captain Max Ehmer has been talking ahead of Gillingham’s long trip to Morecambe this weekend about life at the MEMS Priestfield stadium under new boss Mark Bonner as the German defender gets ready to celebrate ten years at the Club. 

Ehmer did spend one season at Bristol Rovers in 2020/2021 but returned to Kent in the summer of 2021 and has since gone onto top 400 appearances in Gillingham blue, a feat only six others have achieved in over 130 years. 

The Gills skipper spoke to KSN this week and reflected on the 4-1 opening day drubbing of Carlisle United last weekend. “It’s the sort of days players live for,” Ehmer explained.

“We had pre-season games, yes we beat Watford and stuff like that, but the real test we knew would be when we played Carlisle, Morecambe, Fleetwood all these teams.

“You cannot really replicate the matches in pre-season regardless of who you play as they are all different. The ones that we closest to the games that we are going to face were at Southend and Woking.

“Very rarely will you get teams form our league barring the odd few like Notts County who were like Watford with pass, pass, pass. League Two is a lot more dynamic and fuller on.” 

“We know what our jobs are, the manager has made that very clear from day one. Different tactical tweaks, ways of playing – there was lots spoken about in the build-up to Saturday throughout pre-season, whoever started knew their role before the game!” 

“There was a lot to learn on Tuesday,” Ehmer admitted after the Gills bowed out of the Carabao Cup to Championship Swansea City.

“There were some with full debuts in a mix and match team, but it shows the quality of Championship players and sides. The quality they have in the final third when it had been slow, slow before exploding with a real tempo with the quality and speed round the box that we have looked back on, and there is lots to learn from it.” 

“We could have held onto the ball longer at times, but they were a football dominant team and out of possession they are a really high press, so you have to break that first press and then you have a chance to move the ball around, but they are not Championship players for a reason!” 

Ehmer has been confirmed as Club captain this season, and the defender admitted, “It was not something that I really thought about. I was given the armband for pre-season games. I would not say I was shocked when I got given it for the season, I was not really something that was on my mind as whether I have it or not, I will still play the same way.

“Even in games last year where I started and Shaun Williams came on, me handing it over did not change things at all. At the end of the day, it is an armband but as I have said before, it is an honour to have it as Club Captain.”